Shortest-reigning Chinese emperors
The shortest reign was that of Emperor Mo of Jin: less than a day. 72 of the 365 emperors reigned for less than a year.
A reign runs from accession to abdication or death, counted from the dates in the histories. Where a date is known only to the month or year, the length is approximate.
Top 30 of 365
| Rank | Emperor | Reign | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emperor Mo of JinJin · 1234金末帝 Jīn Mòdì完顏承麟 Wányán Chénglín | 1234 | less than a day |
| 2 | Gao YanzongNorthern Qi · 577高延宗 Gāo Yánzōng | 577 | 3 days |
| 3 | Liu HeHan Zhao · 310劉和 Liú Hé | 310 | 6 days |
| 4 | Li ChenghongTang · 763李承宏 Lǐ Chénghóng | 763 | 12 days |
| 5 | Emperor Shang of TangTang · 710唐殤帝 Táng Shāngdì李重茂 Lǐ Chóngmào | 710 | 17 days |
| 6 | Gao HengNorthern Qi · 577北齊幼主 Běi Qí Yòuzhǔ高恆 Gāo Héng | 577 | 20 days |
| 7 | Marquis of HaihunWestern Han · 74 BC漢廢帝 Hàn Fèidì劉賀 Liú Hè | 74 BC | 27 days |
| 8 | Taichang EmperorMing · 1620泰昌帝 Tàichāng Dì朱常洛 Zhū Chángluò | 1620 | 29 days |
| 9 | Liu CanHan Zhao · 318前趙隱帝 Qián Zhào Yǐndì劉粲 Liú Càn | 318 | 30 days |
| 9 | Murong YaoWestern Yan · 386慕容瑤 Mùróng Yáo | 386 | 30 days |
| 9 | Yuan FasengNorthern Wei · 525元法僧 Yuán Fǎsēng | 525 | 30 days |
| 12 | Shi ShiLater Zhao · 349石世 Shí Shì | 349 | 33 days |
| 12 | Zhang BangchangChu (Zhang Bangchang) · 1127張邦昌 Zhāng Bāngchāng | 1127 | 33 days |
| 14 | Yuan YuNorthern Wei · 508元愉 Yuán Yú | 508 | 40 days |
| 14 | Shaowu EmperorSouthern Ming · 1646–1647紹武帝 Shàowǔ Dì朱聿𨮁 Zhū Yùyuè | 1646–1647 | 40 days |
| 16 | Ragibagh KhanYuan · 1328元天順帝 Yuán Tiānshùndì阿速吉八 Āsùjíbā | 1328 | 41 days |
| 17 | Yuan ZhaoNorthern Wei · 528元釗 Yuán Zhāo | 528 | 45 days |
| 18 | Li YuTang · 900–901李裕 Lǐ Yù | 900–901 | 50 days |
| 19 | Rinchinbal KhanYuan · 1332元寧宗 Yuán Níngzōng懿璘質班 Yìlínzhìbān | 1332 | 52 days |
| 20 | Xiao YuanmingLiang · 555蕭淵明 Xiāo Yuānmíng | 555 | 58 days |
| 21 | Liu Ji'enNorthern Han · 968劉繼恩 Liú Jì'ēn | 968 | 61 days |
| 22 | Li YunTang · 886–887李熅 Lǐ Yùn | 886–887 | 71 days |
| 23 | Liu ShaoLiu Song · 453劉劭 Liú Shào | 453 | 72 days |
| 24 | Xiao ZhaowenSouthern Qi · 494齊廢帝 Qí Fèidì蕭昭文 Xiāo Zhāowén | 494 | 74 days |
| 25 | Xiao DongLiang · 551–552梁廢帝 Liáng Fèidì蕭棟 Xiāo Dòng | 551–552 | 87 days |
| 25 | Xue RengaoQin (Xue Ju) · 618薛仁杲 Xuē Réngǎo | 618 | 87 days |
| 27 | Fu ChongFormer Qin · 394前秦末帝 Qián Qín Mòdì苻崇 Fú Chóng | 394 | 92 days |
| 28 | Yuan ShikaiEmpire of China · 1915–1916中華帝國洪憲帝 Zhōng Huá Dì Guó Hóngxiàndì袁世凱 Yuán Shìkǎi | 1915–1916 | 101 days |
| 29 | Yuan HaoNorthern Wei · 529元顥 Yuán Hào | 529 | 102 days |
| 30 | Shi JianLater Zhao · 349–350石鑑 Shí Jiàn | 349–350 | 103 days |